In the Season 1 finale of Pachinko, Koh Hansu (Lee Minho), a wealthy and charismatic businessman, engages a young boy named Noa (Jae Jun Park) in conversation on the crowded streets of Osaka in 1938. What Noa doesn’t realize is that this sharply dressed man in a white suit is his biological father. Kneeling to meet Noa at eye level, Hansu offers him advice: “Never look back. Forward. Always forward.”
After a two-year wait, Soo Hugh’s brilliant adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed novel returns with a second season (premiering August 23 on Apple TV+). This new chapter deeply examines the impact of Hansu’s philosophy of survival, not just on Noa and Hansu himself, but across generations.
Season 2 picks up seven years later. Sunja (Minha Kim), Noa’s mother and Hansu’s unattainable love, continues to support her family by selling homemade kimchee in a busy Osaka market. By 1945, World War II casts a dark shadow over the city, as American planes warn citizens of impending air raids. From afar, Hansu keeps a watchful eye on Sunja and urges her to evacuate to the countryside with her family, including her sister-in-law, Kyunghee (Eunchae Jung). They find shelter in a crumbling barn, working in the rice fields alongside Hansu’s kindhearted employee, Mr. Kim (Sungkyu Kim). Sunja bears many burdens over these five years, driven by her promise to her late husband, Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh): “Our children will live good lives. Noa and Mozasu, they will thrive.”
Sunja’s determination and sacrifices resonate throughout the series, influencing all the characters in Season 2. In 1989 Tokyo, her grandson Solomon (Jin Ha) struggles to rebuild his reputation after losing his banking job. He had encouraged Han Geum-ja (Hye Jin Park), an elderly Korean woman, not to sell her home to a Japanese developer, costing him his career. Solomon now faces an existential crisis, ashamed of his relative privilege compared to the sacrifices of his grandmother and others. “I’ve lived a pathetically easy life,” he reflects. “When I see the way you look at me, the way my grandmother looks at me, how can you not ask yourself, ‘Did I really live through all that for this?’” It’s a poignant portrayal of survivor’s guilt passed down through generations.
In the Season 1 finale of Pachinko, Koh Hansu (Lee Minho), a wealthy and charismatic businessman, engages a young boy named Noa (Jae Jun Park) in conversation on the crowded streets of Osaka in 1938. What Noa doesn’t realize is that this sharply dressed man in a white suit is his biological father. Kneeling to meet Noa at eye level, Hansu offers him advice: “Never look back. Forward. Always forward.”
After a two-year wait, Soo Hugh’s brilliant adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed novel returns with a second season (premiering August 23 on Apple TV+). This new chapter deeply examines the impact of Hansu’s philosophy of survival, not just on Noa and Hansu himself, but across generations.
Season 2 picks up seven years later. Sunja (Minha Kim), Noa’s mother and Hansu’s unattainable love, continues to support her family by selling homemade kimchee in a busy Osaka market. By 1945, World War II casts a dark shadow over the city, as American planes warn citizens of impending air raids. From afar, Hansu keeps a watchful eye on Sunja and urges her to evacuate to the countryside with her family, including her sister-in-law, Kyunghee (Eunchae Jung). They find shelter in a crumbling barn, working in the rice fields alongside Hansu’s kindhearted employee, Mr. Kim (Sungkyu Kim). Sunja bears many burdens over these five years, driven by her promise to her late husband, Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh): “Our children will live good lives. Noa and Mozasu, they will thrive.”
Sunja’s determination and sacrifices resonate throughout the series, influencing all the characters in Season 2. In 1989 Tokyo, her grandson Solomon (Jin Ha) struggles to rebuild his reputation after losing his banking job. He had encouraged Han Geum-ja (Hye Jin Park), an elderly Korean woman, not to sell her home to a Japanese developer, costing him his career. Solomon now faces an existential crisis, ashamed of his relative privilege compared to the sacrifices of his grandmother and others. “I’ve lived a pathetically easy life,” he reflects. “When I see the way you look at me, the way my grandmother looks at me, how can you not ask yourself, ‘Did I really live through all that for this?’” It’s a poignant portrayal of survivor’s guilt passed down through generations.
Season 2’s narrative blends fiction with historical reality, demanding viewers’ full attention. Yet, the gripping writing and emotionally charged performances pull you in completely. Romance remains a central theme, with the forbidden love between Hansu and Sunja carrying over from the first season. Meanwhile, Kyunghee, whose husband Yoseb works in a Nagasaki factory, struggles with her growing connection to Mr. Kim during the war years. Eunchae Jung and Sungkyu Kim bring a quiet intensity to their characters’ interactions, their chemistry palpable even in silence.
In contrast, Solomon’s romance with his former colleague Naomi (Anna Sawai) lacks the same emotional depth, though it leads to intriguing corporate power plays. Jin Ha’s portrayal of Solomon is captivating, as his thirst for revenge against the man who ruined him threatens to corrupt his integrity. The child actors, particularly Eunseong Kwon as young Mozasu and Kang Hoon Kim as teenage Noa, bring innocence and emotional weight to their roles as the center of Sunja’s world.
Season 2’s narrative blends fiction with historical reality, demanding viewers’ full attention. Yet, the gripping writing and emotionally charged performances pull you in completely. Romance remains a central theme, with the forbidden love between Hansu and Sunja carrying over from the first season. Meanwhile, Kyunghee, whose husband Yoseb works in a Nagasaki factory, struggles with her growing connection to Mr. Kim during the war years. Eunchae Jung and Sungkyu Kim bring a quiet intensity to their characters’ interactions, their chemistry palpable even in silence.
In contrast, Solomon’s romance with his former colleague Naomi (Anna Sawai) lacks the same emotional depth, though it leads to intriguing corporate power plays. Jin Ha’s portrayal of Solomon is captivating, as his thirst for revenge against the man who ruined him threatens to corrupt his integrity. The child actors, particularly Eunseong Kwon as young Mozasu and Kang Hoon Kim as teenage Noa, bring innocence and emotional weight to their roles as the center of Sunja’s world.
Season 2 of Pachinko continues to excel, weaving a rich, time-hopping narrative with themes of love, resilience, and the sacrifices required to survive. It’s a compelling story about the enduring impact of family and legacy.
